This 500-Square-Foot Manhattan Apartment Has a Small Yet Splashy Kitchen

and small space, Every square foot matters.Creative Director Fanny Abbes new design project When the 30-something nurse signed on to help renovate her home, she knew there were only 500 nurses to consider. It also came with the additional challenge of becoming

“This apartment is in a village-like block on Manhattan’s Upper East Side,” says Fanny. “I was drawn to this project because it is in a beautiful building full of stunning period features.”

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Aside from the coveted wooden floors and large windows, the 500-square-foot expanse that makes up this stark canvas has clearly been important over the years, if only because it’s been worn. . There were discolored chandeliers and wall stains, and the bathroom hardware was caked in limescale and grout and hadn’t been a uniform shade of white for some time. was doing. It was about highlighting the past in a way that didn’t show how hard every square inch had already worked.

“We wanted to create a modern Scandinavian retreat that isn’t afraid of color,” Fanny continues. “It provides sanctuary, [happiness] After coming home from a rather stressful job.

At the same time, Fanny wanted to retain as much as possible and bring together details that had been retained for years into this fresh perspective. A metal frame appeared in good condition. She decided to take this opportunity as the most eye-catching aspect of the room, but painted it in neutral shades so that they would blend together. The bathroom has been updated with vintage sinks and colorful bath tiles, along with new old and worn fixtures.

Perhaps the biggest change occurred in the kitchen. The kitchen is connected to the living area as an enclave against one wall. Fanny aimed to make a statement with this spot, especially considering the living area is destined to be more modest, and opted to introduce custom cabinetry painted in a bright robin’s egg blue. A geometric backsplash in the same shade in the center ties everything together, giving the kitchen a distinct personality and adding a distinct edge to the overall look of the apartment.

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“The kitchen is very small and opens onto the living area, so this contrasting color makes it stand out,” says Fanny. “In a way, it becomes my room.”

As part of the finishing touches, Fanny focused on stripping the design down to its essentials. It was important that the house was cozy and not overcrowded. “There are so many accents you can add to a small space without clutter,” she says. All furniture has clean lines and enough storage space for one person. Fanny also saw the apartment holistically, so the same palette of light and dark moves from private to public spaces, fostering a sense of relaxation. We complemented it with a trio of capsule mirrors and a grooved sideboard,” she says.

The renovation took about five months to complete, largely due to the time it took to create the custom cabinetry. The apartment now radiates its own modern touch while complementing the time capsule character of the building. “It’s a small apartment, but it’s very charming,” says Fanny. “Its size was the biggest challenge, but now it stands out.”

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originally appeared architectural digest